Trade market for Chiefs LB Dee Ford could improve

It’s been quite the active morning on the second day of legal tampering, and one teams activity has potential to help the Chiefs.

The Green Bay Packers were reported to be one of the teams interested in a trade involving Ford. It made plenty of sense because Mike Smith, Ford’s outside linebacker coach in 2018, is now a member of the Packers defensive staff.

Now the Packers are expected to sign both Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith, improving their outside linebacker group, and substantially lessening the likelihood of a acquiring Ford in trade. Just because the Packers are out though doesn’t mean that the market for Ford is dwindling. In fact, their move to acquire two of the better free agent edge rushers in a thin class, actually might heighten the number of teams calling the Chiefs about Ford.

There’s only a few quality young edge rushers remaining in the 2019 free agent class, with guys like Shaquil Barrett and Shane Ray as the headliners. Then you get into the second wave of players which include a lot of older veterans. Guys like the recently released Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston, Clay Matthews, Cameron Wake, and Vinny Curry. After that it’s probably a game of chance when it comes to getting a contributor.

The 49ers handed out a big deal to inside linebacker Kwon Alexander, but they could still be interested in Ford. Now that both the Ravens and Redskins have lost free agent edge rushers, their need to acquire one could potentially increase. Other teams that could emerge as interested parties with a dwindling edge rusher group in free agency are the Panthers, Falcons, Seahawks, and Titans.

There are still plenty of landing spots for Ford, and even though the Packers are now off the table, they may have actually helped to create a bigger market for Ford. Only time will tell if the Chiefs choose to move Ford in trade, but as free agency continues things could certainly get interesting.